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Miriam Rossi

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This sandbox is in the article namespace. Either move this page into your userspace, or remove the {{User sandbox}} template. Miriam Rossi (born Miriam Frances Senhouse) (31 Jan 1937 - 11 July 2018) was an emeritus professor of pediatrics at the University of Toronto, and a pediatrician in the division of Adolescent Medicine at the Hospital for Sick Children.[1][2] She was the Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Admissions at the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine for 13 years.[1][2] Rossi is best known for her contributions to diversity and health equity in undergraduate medical education.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Early life and education

Rossi was born in Boston, Massachusetts, US on 31st January 1937.[3] Rossi's mother was from Barbados, and was a designer in the Boston garment industry.[2][3] Rossi's father was the American-born son of immigrants from Barbados and Canada, and was a post-office supervisor.[2][3] Rossi's paternal grandmother was originally from New Brunswick, and had Indigenous roots.[2] Rossi credits her parents for fostering her academic interests and encouraging mentorship.[3] During her childhood, Rossi tutored her younger sister Muriel and neighbourhood children in English and math in her backyard.[2][3]

Rossi obtained a Bachelors of Science degree in dietetics, and a Masters degree in nutrition and biochemistry at the University of Iowa.[2][3] This was followed by a string of jobs, including being an instructor at a Boston hospital, and a teacher and a public health nutritionist in New York City's public health department in Harlem.[2][3][4] Rossi then completed medical school as a member of the first graduating class at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (now the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai).[2][3]

She later became a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics.[4]

Research and career

Rossi first practiced in the US and in Montreal, Canada.[3] She completed her medical residency at McGill University in Canada.[2] In 1973, she followed her husband, Renato Rossi, to Milan, Italy, where she first qualified for an Italian medical degree before practicing for a year.[3] In 1981, Rossi's husband relocated again for work reasons in Toronto, Canada.[3] Rossi followed, and soon joined the Hospital for Sick Children as a pediatrician in the division of adolescent medicine, and a pediatrics professor at the University of Toronto.[2][3]

In 1988, Rossi was appointed the Associate Dean of Student Affairs & Admissions at the Faculty of Medicine in the University of Toronto.[1][2] During her 13 years in the position, Rossi oversaw student affairs and admissions, and strongly advocated for students, especially minority students.[3][4][2]

In 1992, Rossi co-founded the Association for the Advancement of Blacks in Health Sciences, alongside black medical students, Dr. Kristine Whitehead, Dominick Shelton and Diana Alli D'souza (a retired University of Toronto administrator).[3][4][2] The Association aimed to address the lack of aboriginal and black medical students at the University of Toronto by first doing outreach to high schools in the Greater Toronto Area, and then launched a Summer Mentorship Program in 1994.[3][4] This five week competitive program invited high school black and aboriginal students to shadow health professionals in various disciplines, obtain research experience and attend professional development workshops.[3][4][5] Over 900 students have graduated from the Summer Mentorship Program, where almost all have completed post-secondary degrees, and approximately half have also completed a medical degree or professional program in health sciences.[1][4][6][7] One program attendee, Garfield Miller, went on to become the first black medical student to enter the University of Toronto’s ophthalmology residency program.[4][8]

As associate dean, Rossi introduced a multi-step strategy to prevent sexual harassment at the University of Toronto.[9] This was in response to a study Rossi had led, where first and fourth year medical students reported, through volunteer questionnaires, any verbal, emotional, physical or sexual abuse experienced during their medical education.[9][10]

Rossi served in multiple service roles, including:

  • From 1990 to 1993, Rossi served on the Presidential Advisory Committee on Race Relations and Anti-racial Initiatives of the University of Toronto.[11]
  • From 1991 to 1998, Rossi served on the Ontario Premier's Council for Health Strategy.[4][11]
  • From 2004 to 2010, Rossi served on the Trillium Gift of Life Network (Ontario's provincial agency dedicated to organ transplant and donations).[2][11]

Rossi co-founded the Black Health Alliance and was a strong vocal advocate in 2010 for the opening of the TAIBU Community Health Care Centre, which provides specialized care for the black community.[4]

Rossi was a founding member of the Black Physicians' Association of Ontario (BPAO).[4][12] In 2017, BPAO collaborated with the University of Toronto to establish the Miriam Rossi Award for Health Equity in Undergraduate Medical Education.[12][13] This recognizes commitments to diversity and health equity in undergraduate medical education made by faculty members at the University of Toronto.[13]

Mentorship

Rossi has been recognized repeatedly for her commitment to mentorship and student advocacy through awards, and by her peers.[1][4][6][7][11][14]

Upon being recognized as one of 100 accomplished Black Canadian Women, Rossi stated:

"I believe the greatest accomplishments during my career in the Health Sciences was (a) to be instrumental in bringing about a change in the admission procedures that allowed a larger number of minority students to enter the field of Health Sciences at the University of Toronto; (b) not second, but equally important, was the founding of the Mentoring Program at the Faculty of Medicine for underachieving minority high school students that allowed more students to gain the confidence to apply and be accepted to programs in Health Sciences at various universities."[2]

Awards

  • Ontario Psychological Foundation Community Service Award (1991).[15]
  • Harry Jerome Award for Professional Excellence (1997).[14]
  • The Vision Award for Excellence in Ongoing Community Education (1999).[15]
  • The African Canadian Achievement Award in Health Science (2002).[15]
  • The Keeper of the Flame Award (2005).[15]
  • Inaugural recipient of the SOSAction Guiding Star Award (2013).[11]
  • Recognized as one of the 100 accomplished Black Canadian Women (2016).[15][16][17]

Personal life

Rossi was married to Renato Rossi, an engineering executive.[2][15] She passed away at the age of 81 on July 11, 2018.[2][15] Rossi leaves behind her sister (Muriel Smalheiser), husband, son (Arthur Rossi) and four grandchildren.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f "U of T Medicine Remembers Dr. Miriam Rossi". Faculty of Medicine. 2018-07-13. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "'Driven by a sense of equity and justice': Miriam Rossi, a pediatrician and U of T professor, was an influential diversity advocate". University of Toronto News. Retrieved 2018-09-26. Cite error: The named reference ":4" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q "Doctor on Call | By Stacey Gibson | Dr. Miriam Rossi, Former Associate Dean of Student Affairs, Medicine | Spring 2018 | University of Toronto Magazine". magazine.utoronto.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Dr. Miriam Rossi touched many lives". Ron Fanfair. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  5. ^ a b "U of T program aims to increase Black medical school applicants". Ron Fanfair. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  6. ^ a b c Wane, Njoki; Jagire, Jennifer; Murad, Zahra (2014-02-07). Ruptures: Anti-colonial & Anti-racist Feminist Theorizing. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9789462094468.
  7. ^ a b c Wane, Njoki Nathani; Deliovsky, Katerina; Lawson, Erica (2002). Back to the Drawing Board: African-Canadian Feminisms. Canadian Scholars’ Press. ISBN 9781894549172.
  8. ^ "Retired educator enjoys helping students financially | Share News". sharenewsarchive.com. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  9. ^ a b Koba, H (1995-02-01). "U of T Medical School uses multistep strategy to prevent sexual harassment". CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 152 (3): 414–415. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 1337546. PMID 7828109.
  10. ^ Moscarello, R; Margittai, K J; Rossi, M (1994-02-01). "Differences in abuse reported by female and male Canadian medical students". CMAJ: Canadian Medical Association Journal. 150 (3): 357–363. ISSN 0820-3946. PMC 1486154. PMID 7832819.
  11. ^ a b c d e "Dr. Miriam Rossi honoured by youth mentorship network | Share News". sharenewsarchive.com. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  12. ^ a b "Black Physicians' Association of Ontario Annual Report 2017" (PDF). 2017. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |dead-url= (help)
  13. ^ a b "Awards - Miriam Rossi and Norman Rosenblum". Faculty of Medicine. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  14. ^ a b "1997 Alumni - Harry Jerome Awards". Harry Jerome Awards. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  15. ^ a b c d e f g "Dr. Miriam Rossi - Wednesday, July 11th, 2018". newediukfuneralhome.com. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  16. ^ "100 Accomplished Black Canadian Women Book Launched; Judge Proclaims That "Black Women Matter" - Pride News". Pride News. 2016-06-22. Retrieved 2018-08-11.
  17. ^ "Dr. Miriam Rossi | 100ABCWomen". www.100abcwomen.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-11.

Miriam Rossi

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